NorthernPassion (18 page)

Martin tried to restrain his wife. “But you’re so delicate—”

She snatched away from him. “Delicate my ass. I don’t want
anyone who doesn’t want me, including you.” She turned back to Leesa. “Why
would you help them?” She spat her words.

Leesa laughed uncontrollably now.

Desiree shook her head. “I don’t know if I would believe
anything she said at this point. She’s not right.”

“Don’t you speak for me,” Leesa screamed. “I’m just fine.
Martin had us believing Geneva was his delicate flower. I wasn’t helping them.
I was helping me. I wanted you to leave, Geneva. I wanted you to go back to the
States so I could have Martin all to myself. We almost did it too, but then
these two showed up.”

Geneva looked at her husband. He reached out to her and she
held up her hands to stop him, done with him. She shook her head, then walked
past Martin and away from Leesa and her madness.

* * * * *

Midday-sun worshippers erupted onto the beach to soak up the
Riviera sun near Cannes. They got out of their cars and walked onto the sand,
most paying to lie on a beach chair. Sam and Desiree had virtually taken up
private residence there. This was their third and last day to relax before they
had to head home and back to their real lives. Sam alternated between lazing in
his chair, dipping in the ocean and rubbing sunblock on various parts of
Desiree’s body.

She lay on her stomach next to him, reading a book stashed
just under her lounge chair. They were separated from the rest of the people by
a red velvet rope. Their yacht was parked not far off the shore and their valet
and water taxi waited nearby to take them back when they were ready. He rubbed
oil on her shoulders, enjoying the sun- kissed hue of her golden-brown skin,
then kissed her neck.

“Don’t start anything you can’t finish,” she said.

He laughed. “Don’t you worry about me finishing. I always
finish what I start. You got jokes, but you better enjoy this. It’s back to
business as usual tomorrow.” They were flying back to the States via Paris in
the evening.

“I think Reed would have a heart attack if we stayed away any
longer. He might fire me.”

“I highly doubt that.” Sam shook his head. “Besides, we are
working remotely. They don’t have anywhere they want to send us right now.”

“Yes, remotely. From this beautiful topless beach on the
French Riviera with white sand—”

“And don’t forget the yacht. We work from the yacht too.”
They both broke into laughter.

“You gotta admit, the job doesn’t suck. It beats data entry
or any of the other meaningless jobs I’ve had.”

Sam laid on the sand next to Desiree. “It’s the best job I’ve
ever had, especially since I get to do it with you.”

Desiree looked at Sam, searching his face. He smiled. “I
can’t believe you were just that corny.”

He blushed. “I know, right? That was bad, wasn’t it?”

“Made-for-TV-movie bad.” She paused. “But I loved it.”

A soft breeze cooled them. A few kids played nearby just on
the other side of the rope. Their valet stood a few feet away, his arms across
his chest, looking out into nothing.

“So, Desiree, do you ever think about doing something else?
No going back?”

Desiree sat up. “What are you talking about? I just told you
this was the best job I’d ever had. Where else would we get to solve crazy
crimes you didn’t even believe were crimes? You remember you told me everything
in life wasn’t a conspiracy? I guess you were wrong. Kimberly and Leesa were
stone-cold crazy!”

Sam chuckled. “I have to agree with you on that. Don’t
forget Greta and Geneva—”

“And Martin.”

“Him too. The Passion Club was one thing, but I think it
would have been so much easier to just be upfront and have an old-fashioned
affair instead of killing people.”

Desiree shrugged. “That whole tattoo-on-the-arm, family tree
thing was strange too. It’s like Derek and Martin were branding their women.
All of the Passion Club members were leaves on the tree. That’s just crazy. I
saw flashed of them on Lessa and Kimberly, but had no idea what they were.”

“People do what they do for strange reasons.” He paused. “We
could just quit.” Sam searched her face. He loved his job too but couldn’t
stand the thought of some of the consequences. “If something happened to you, I
don’t know what I’d do. We could go have safe office jobs somewhere.”

“We could, but then we’d be bored. Where else could we work
together like we do? I like being your partner.” She closed her book and
reached into her beach bag for her wrap.

Uncertainty clouded Sam’s mind. He’d thought about things
over and over and the only thing he knew for sure was he wanted to have Desiree
by his side. “Will you be my partner forever?”

Desiree’s heart skipped a beat. Had she heard him right? “What
are you asking, Sam?”

Sam reached into the pocket in his swim trunks and took out
the ring he’d picked out. Desiree’s hands flew to her face. “I’m asking you to
be my partner forever. I watched you grow so much and I love all of our
adventures together. Desiree Compton, will you marry me?”

Tears sprang to Desiree’s eyes. She’d wished and imagined
this but never believed Sam would actually propose. The diamond ring he held in
his hand glistened in the sunlight. “Sam, I want to be with you, but I don’t
want to be your wife if you are only proposing because you think I will stop
working for the agency if we get married. I also don’t want them to assign us
apart. Reed is already on our asses a lot right now. Imagine if we get married?
The engagement will kill him and he’ll make work unbearable for me.”

“I want to spend my life with you, Desiree. I don’t care
where you work or if you work. I have enough money so neither of us have to
work again, but I want you to be happy. If the job makes you happy, keep it.”
He paused, waiting. “But you have to do something because my arm is getting
tired holding this rock up like this.”

A smile peeked through Desiree’s tears. “What about Reed?”

“I will handle Reed, but if it will make you happy, we won’t
have to tell him anything, not until you are ready.”

Desiree kissed Sam deeply, pulling her to him. He returned
her passion and they ignored the stares from the people around them. “I will
marry you, Sam Comfort. Yes.”

Sam laughed and then kissed Desiree again. “I actually
thought you might say no.”

“Really? We need to go back to the boat so I can show you
just how happy I am.”

Sam signaled the valet. The man had appeared to be staring
out into space, but he jumped into action and headed straight for their taxi
dingy. They followed, walking behind him, just far enough so they couldn’t see
he was texting a message back to the headquarters of ACOI—and to Reed.

The End

Cynnamon Foster is the alter-ego of multi-published author
and film maker Nina Foxx. Cynnamon has been begging to be let out for quite
awhile. She tied Nina up and put her in a closet and has been writing ever
since. Cynnamon lives in Southern California with her main personality.

Cynnamon welcomes comments from readers. You can find her
website and email addresses on her
author
bio page
at
www.ellorascave.com
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Northern Passion

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Northern Passion Copyright © 2014 Cynnamon Foster

Edited by Victoria Reese

Cover design by Dar Albert

Cover photography by Photo-nuke, Pixel & Creation/fotolia.com

Electronic book publication January 2014

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